The inauguration of the American president Barack Obama[1] last January 21st, was filled with a passionate speech that foreshadows what could be the next years of his administration. Besides advocating on issues like legal gay marriage and reverting the effects of climate change, he also emphasized the need for an immigration reform and an unconditional support to young immigrants, topics that are close to the hearts of the Latino community. Also, two Latino figures, Sonia Sotomayor[2] and Richard Blanco[3], played an important role during the ceremony.

The first one to take oath before the 500,000 people that sorrounded Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. was vicepresident Joe Biden. Judge Sonia Sotomayor, from Puerto Rico, was in charge and became the first Latina to lead such act. After the oath and speech by president Obama, the Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco took the stage to recite his poem “One Today[4]”. Blanco's presence during the inauguration had a strong meaning because he is the first young, immigrant, gay, poet to inaugurate the United States presidency. All these references make Blanco the person who embodies the four electoral groups that gave Obama the win for his second term as a president.

The Latino touch continued during the parties celebrated to honor the president as tradition dictates. Also, almost 5 Latino bands participated in the parades following the inauguration. The blog InmigranteTV[5] [es] took the opportunity to remind the Latino guests who were invited to the parties of the importance of the Hispanic vote and the commitment Obama has with this electoral community:

The celebrations preceding the second inauguration of Barack Obama started with the “Latino Inaugural 2013″ which reunited at the capital city stars like Eva Longoria, Maná and Marc Anthony last Saturday. Along with Longoria and Anthony, several accomplished musicians and singers were invited like Jose Feliciano, Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno and the Spanish Antonio Banderas… Latinos, who gave a stounding 70% support to Obama last November, joined in the capital to celebrate the victory but also to remind the re-elected president about his commitment with the community that has placed its hopes with him for a second time.

On Twitter we gathered countless comments on the inauguration. According to Twitter user fchague (@fchague[6]) [es] the number exceeded the million milestone:

@nataliaspringer: Many latinos at Obama's inauguration ceremony. I hope that he goes beyond gestures and starts showing results for a discriminated minority!

It is said that the national anthem sang by Beyonce was lip-synched, a moment that was also widely commented among Latinos. The humor touch was given by El Mono Sánchez (@elmonitosanchez[12]) [es] who compared the issue with what happened to Shakira when she miss-interpreted Colombia's national anthem at the America's Summit in Cartagena: